Steaming iron



March 4, 1930. R. LEPRESTRE l 1,749,639

sTBAMING IRON Filed Nov. 18, 1.929 2 Sheets-Sheet l i Y gwvetoz .5

Rene Lresre,

March 4, 1930. "R. LEPRESTRE STEAMING IRON Fild Nov. 18, 1.929

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV-ENTOR Patented Mar. 4, 1930 RENE Lnr'nnsran, or NEWYoan, N.`Y.

STEAMING IRON Application f led November 18, 1929. Serial No. 408,12.

This invention relates to steaming irons of the electrically heatedtype, and has y,for its general object to embody lin an' iron of thistype a combination of desirable features intended to render the lironexceptionally satisfactory and ecient in use. f

A-primary obj ect of the invention is to provide ari-iron vofthe typeset forthwhose basic principle is to utilize the otherwise wasted heatenergy in all fiat irons .generally in use.v That is .to say, thepresent invention preheats the water to be utilized forsteamingpurposes, thereby insuring three importantobjects, vizz--a continuity ofeven and appropriate' heat in the sole plate for proper ironing; 4having utilized the otherwise wasted radiated heat it insures distinctlycool upper parts; and, on account of the continuous abundant stream ofsteam, a complete abl sence of any scorching is assured.

-Another object of the invention is'to pro vide a novel-'arrangement ofparts wherebyv the water supplied to the iron is effectively. preheatedbefore it enters the evaporationv chamber therein, thereby to minimizethe amount of heat energy required to generate steady and sufficientsteamwithout vdecreasing theheat4 of the sole plate, Also in thisconnection, it is an object of the invention to provide an arrangementof parts, serving in addition to the foregoing-purposes and objects ofutilizing the water supply to the iron to shield the upper .or handleportions of the iron from the heat in the lower or bottom portion oftheiron, thereby rendering the iron always comfortable to use.

ith the additional particular purpose of providing a steaming iron ofyextremely sim-- 40 ple, durable construction and of lowproduction'cost, the vinvention consists` in the novel f features ofconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described, illustrated Iin the accomfpanyingdrawings and defined Ain the .appended claims.

. lIn the drawings wherein like characters of reference denotecorresponding parts of the different views. 5 Figure 1 is a 1ongitudina1section through a steaming iron constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line b-b of Figure lshowing the base portion of the iron with the cover removed and partsbroken away to more clearly disclose the underlying structure.

Figure 3 includes a pxlan View and an edge i According to one practicalembodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in theaccompanyingdrawings, a relatively thick and heavyA base is provided, the sameincluding al so-called sole plate 33 and a pressure plate 35 connectedby fastenings 26fand having therebetween an electrical heating unit 34.The said sole plate 33 is of conventional flat iron shape and has anupstanding projection Vor annular tube portion 39y near its forward end,leading to the nal steam compartment 38f of a dome 11, and establishingcommunication between said compartment and the apertures 29 lwhich areal series of small steam outlets in the forward part of the sole plate.

The electrical heating unit 34 may be of any suitable construction, the'same preferl ably being relatively thin and corresponding vin shape tothe general shape of the sole plate 33, and consisting, .for example, ofa suitable resist-ance element embodied in insulationmaterial, such, forexample, as mica.

The pressure plate orf block 35 whichis superimposed on the heatingelement is-provided with an aperture 40 for permitting the upstandingpro]ection or annular tube 39 to pass through the saine and extend intothe steam chamber 38f. The fastenings, such as. the screws 26, extendloosely through vopenings in thepressure plate 35 and also in theheating element '34 andare threaded into the sole plate 33 whereby thepressure and sole plates are securely clamped together at opposite sidesof the heating element. In that connection, the annular tube 39 and thecircular aperture 40 constitute interengagekable means between the soleand pressureplates to facilitate positioningof these elements in theassembly of the iron.

Upon the top of the pressure plate is placed a flash plate or a sheet 27of a suitable metal covering the pressure plate 35 forming the bottom ofthe steam chamber 38f. This plate 27 is firmly secured to the pressureplate and the base by means of an hexagonal threaded flange 28, which isfastened to the end of the annular tube 39.

-thereby causing the incoming water to get in active touchwith the hotbody of the shell, with the result of more economically utilizing theheat energy that under ordinary conditions would be wasted throughradiation. Suitable fasteners such as screws indicated i at 41 areprovided to hold the preheating diate compartment plates 17, 18 and 19,solidly in their respective seats, insuring a rigid, durable and watertight construction. The lower section of the above said dome or casing10 forms the steam generatingchamber 38, which is specifically dividedinto a series of six cross sectional compartments 38m-f inclusive, asshown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. These cross sectional compartments 38e-fare formed by specifically located barriers or cross walls 32 and 22,made of suitable metal. By reason of the foregoing construction aspecifically narrow passage or channel extending substantially from endto end, as shown on Figure 1 No.' 14 and also on Fig. 6 isprovidedbetween the upper part of the dome or casing 10 and theuppermost plate 17. Another passage 15 is provided between the uppermostplate 17 and the intermediate plate 18y and a third passage 16, similarvto the second, is provided between the intermeplate 18 and thelowermost plate 19. Formed through the uppermost plate17 adj acent tothe rear end of the channelled compartment 14 there is one opening asshown in 37 a Fig. 3 and affording a guiding communication between thepassages 14 and 15 while formed through the intermediate plate 18adjacent to the rear end of the second channelled compartment 15 thereis one opening as shown 37b Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 a uiding communicationbetween the assage 15 and the passage 16, and to provi e communicationbetween the latter mentioned passage and the steam generating chamber38, the plate 19Ais provided with one opening as shown in 370 Fig. 5 andFig. 6 adjacent to the rear end of the steam generating chamber.

The passages 14, 15 and 16 are designed to conduct water from a suitablesource of supply to the steam generating chamber 38 and as will be notedfrom the arrangement of the apertures in the plates 17, 18 and 19, waterin its flow :from the forward end of the passage 14 must of necessitytravel first rearwardly through the passage 14 then forwardly andrearwardly through the passage 15 and finally forwardly and thenrearwardly through the passage 16 in order to reach the steam generatingchamber. In this way the heat in the steam generating chamber is alsoutilized to preheat the water being'supplied to said chamber, andbecause of the absorption of heat by the thin films of water in thepassages 14, 15 and 16, the parts of the iron disposed above the shellor casing 10 obviously are shielded from the heat of the base portion ofthe iron, thus insuring a comparatively cool upper surface.

Thus finally when the preheated boiling water reaches through theopening 370 into the rearmost compartment 38a of the steam generatingchamber 38, it is transformed immediately into nascent steam. Thenascent steam generated in the rearmost cross sectional compartment 38@by expansion is forced to tra-vel above the upstanding transverselydisposed walls 32, increasing its velocity when it strikes the dependingwall 22,

which is located inversely to the walls 32,

thus causing the steam to go down, touching the surface of the bottomplate 27 of the forewater drops carried by the velocity of thel steam inits travel, is a specially designed shield 11 as shown in Figure 1 andFigure 2', causing these above said accidental drops of` water strikingthe shield 11, drops down again on 'plate 27 insuring completeevaporation. The desi-gn of this shield 11 is such that it increases thepressure of the outgoing steam, safeguarding against any back pressure,while the iron is in operation.

In order to' secure the above said shield 11 in its proper location, afastening metal cover 13 is providedwith series of circularly locatedapertures leading into thesteam outlet chamber 31, formed by the annular'tube 39 extending from the base 33. This chamber 31 is providedwithmeans to direct the steam to` escape from the bottom of the base throughsmall apertures 29.

In order to insure abundantsteam, we deliver a suflicient continuousstream of propercount of its s ecific size, bein unable to evaporate allt e preheated elivered water, forces the water to boil and evaporate andcross the rearmost barrier 32 into the next compartment 38?), lettingthe nascent steam to escape above the walls 32 touching in its passageinevitably the ceiling of the steam generating chamber formed by thelowermost preheating compartment plate 19 and continuing its travel asabove described. The boiling water carried by the steam from therearmost compartment 38a is gradually decreased by being generated intosteam in compartments 38b-0-ci until it reaches 38e and and finallyescaping as above described. T e pressure plate 35, the shell or casing10 and its associate plate 27 aforementioned are enclosed by a hood 12and riveted or yotherwise suitably secured to 'this hood is asubstantially U-shaped'bail 9 between the arms of which is mounted ahandle 6. Within the rear end portion of said handle is mounted asuitable flexible connection 45 adapted to be connected witha source ofwater supply. Within the forward end of the handle 6 is suitably mounteda valve body 4 having a passa e 42 coaxial with the handle and connecteby a conduit 5 with the water suppl line 7. A rotatable valve 3cooperating wit a seat inthe valve body 4 is provided to control theflow of water from the passage 42to va second passage 43 in said valvebody, this second passage bein connected by 'a tube 8 with the forwarden of the passage 14 aforementioned.

' A lever 1 is provided for manipulating the valve 3, this lever 1 beinginclusive of a finger engaging portion disposed on the left hand side tothe forward end portion of the handle 6 and the bail having suitablymount- A ed thereon stopper 44 with which the valve opening is limited.

In order to prevent waste of venergy and prevent unnecessary generatingof steam while the iron is not in use, the lever 1 is provided with aspring 2, which automatically shuts od the water supply .when the ironis placed on the stand.

At the rear of the hood 12 is mounted a block 24 of suitable insulatingmaterial carrying contacts 25 connected with the terminals ofthe heatingunit 34 and adapted to have engaged therewith an electrical'socket of.conventional design whereby electrical 'current is adapted to besupplied? tothe rheatingy element.

. Without vention will be readily apparent to -those skilled in the art,and it will, of course be matassav Asupplying vwater y furtherdescriptionitis thought that the features and advantages of the in-l Iclaim: 1. In ra steaming iron, a. perforated base, a dome forming-anevaporation chamber above said base, heating means inthe base, and aplurality of plates in the inner top portion of the dome and cooperatingwith thedome and with one another to provide a pluralityvof superimposednarrow passages at the to of the evaporation chamber extendin rom sideto side and substantially the fu length of said chamber,1 means forsupplying water to one end of the uppermost 2. A steaming iron includinga sole plate Y having steam outlet means therein, electrical heatingmeans on the sole plate, a pressure plate overlying the electricalheating means and secured to the sole plate, a' dome surmounting thepressure plate and providing a steam chamber in communication with thesteam outlet means of the sole plate, water preheating means carried bythe inner upper side ofthe dome and communicating with the steam chamberof the dome, and means for to said water preheating means. Y

3. A steaming iron, including in combinantion, a base having electricalheating means therein and steam outlet passages, a dome mounted on thebase and providing a steam chamber commumcating with the steam outletpassages of the base, a hood mounted on .the base and covering the dome,and means 1n the dome yforming a series of superimposed communicatingwater preheating passages communlcatmg with the steam chamber of thedome.

4. A steaming iron including in combination a base havlng steam outletmeans, electr1cal heating means in the base, a dome carried by the baseand forming a vaporization chamber communicatin with the base, aplurallt of separateimemers nested in the top of t e dome and havin'means forming a water passage commumcating at one end with thevaporization chamber, and means for supplymg water to said waterpassage.

5. A steaming iron, including in combination, a base comprising a soleplate and a base, av plurality of water passage lforming elelmentsnested in the top of the dome, Water supply means communicating at oneend with said water passage, a .vapor-ization chamber formed by the domeand communicating with the discharge end of said water passage, aplurality of spaced wall members.

dome, said means comprising a plurality of superimposed plates havingopenings therein and also having portions cooperating with the dome toprovide a continuous Water preheating passage in the top of the domedis'- charging into the vaporization chamber, and Water supply meanscommunicating with the inlet end ot' said passage formed by. saidplates.

7. A steaming iron including in combina. tion, an ironbase having steamoutlet means,

heating meansl in the base, water, supply means, -means arranged aboveand spaced from the heating means in the base for preheating the waterin successive stages as it Hows from said water supply means toward theheating means, a dome surmounting the base and carrying the water supplymeans and the preheating means and also forming a vaporiz'ation chamber,and means in the vaporization chamber including a pluralityof'compartments arranged between the discharge end of the waterpreheating means and the steam-outlet means of the base for steaming thewater in successive stages.

8. In a steaming iron, water supply means,

. abase, heating means in the base, adome.

cooperating with the base to provide a vaporization chamber, steamoutlet means in the base communicating with the said vapori'- zationchamber, a plurality of stepped shoulders in the dome, a plurality ofsuperimposed members engaging said shoulders and having means forming acontinuous Water cir` cuit communicating with the water supply means anddischarging into said vaporiaation chamber. ,y

9. In a steaming iron, a base including a sole plate, a -projection onthe upper side of the soleplate and a steam outlet chamber formed withinsaid projection, passages in the sole plate communicating with said`steam outlet chamber andl having openings leading to the surfacethereof, a pressure plate overlying the sole plate and surrounding ,saidprojection, heating means between thersole plate and the pressure plate,a Hash plate overlying the pressure plate, a dome mounted on the Hashplate and having a water passageway communicating with a steam chamber,said steam chamber communicating with the steam outlet chamber formed insaid projection, means for supplying water to the passageway in thedome.

10. A steaming iron, comprising in combination, a dome having a steamchamber, water supply means connected to the dome, a base includingsteam outlet means communicating with the steam chamber of the dome,heating means in the base, and means forming passages in the top of thedome for conveying Water at progressively lower levels toward the steamchamber and releasing the same therein.

11. A steaming iron, comprising in combination, water supply means, abase including steam outlet means, heating means in the base, a dome onthe base having a vaporization chamber communicating with lthe saidsteam outlet means of the base, means in said chamber providing a flashcompartment, and means in the top of the dome forlprogressivelyconveying and preheating the water fed from said water supply meansuntil it is precipitated into the Hash compartment.

12. A steaming iron, comprising in combination, Water supply means, abase having steam outlet means, heating means in the baseeav dome havinga vaporization chamber communicating with the steam outlet means andalso havlng a Hash compartment, means in the dome communicating with thewater supply means for preheating the water in successive stages priorto delivery tothe Hash compartment, and means for further vaporizingsteam from the Hash compartment in successive stages prior' todischarging the same through the steam outletl means.

.13. A steaming iron, comprising in combination, water supply means, abase including steam outlet means, heating means in the base, a Hashplate overlying the base, a dome surmounting the Hash plate and forminga steam chamber including a Hash compartment, said steam -chambercommunicating with the steam outlet means in the base, and means in thetop of the dome forming a series of superimposed communicating waterpassages connected with the said water supply-means and discharging ontothe portion of the Hash plate lying within theHash com, .partment.

14. A steaming iron, comprising in combination, a base including aperforated sole plate and a pressure plate, a dome surmounting thepressure plate, heating means in the base, means or'supplying watertothe top of the dome, means within the dome for preheating the water insuccessive stages by conducting said water from the top of the dometoward the heating element in successive scending stream toward and intosaid steam levels, means within the dome for causing chamber.- steamingin'successive stages, and means for In testimony whereof I hereunto aixmy conducting steam from the dome to the persignature. forated soleplate.v RENE LEPRESTRE. 70

" 15. A steaming iron,comprisingin combination, abase including aperforated sole plate and a pressure plate, a heating unit between thesole plate and pressure plate',a E ome 19 surmounting the base an'dhaving a steam 75 chamber, Water supply means communicating with the topof thev dome, a water preheater within the dome having channels forcompelling the water to ow at predetermined progressively lowerhorizontal levels, thereby 80 causing uniform preheating in successivestages,an d means for conducting steam from the steam chamberofthe dometo the perforated sole plate. 20 16. VA steaming iron, comprising in.com- 85 bination, water supply means, a base including a sole platehaving steam outlet means and a pressure plate, electrical-heating meansAar-l ranged between said plates, a dome surmountv ing the pressureplate and having avvaporiza- 90 tion chamber communicating with saidsteam. outlet means in the sole plate, avhood carried by the iron baseand covering said dome, and water preheating means communicating withthe vaporization chamber and arranged with- 95 .in the dome between thesaid vapor-ization 'chamber thereof and said hood, said water preheatingmeans communicating with the water supply means. 100

17 A steaming iron, includingin combination, water 'supply means,'a basehaving e1ectrical heating means therein and also having steam outletmeans', a dome surmounting the base and having a steam chamber communi-40 eating with said steam outlet means, a hood l I 105' carried bythebase, and means associated with the dome and communicating with thewater supply means and the steam chamber, said means being arrangedbetween the steam A chamber-thereof and said hood to preheat the nowater as it is conducted from the water sup ply means .to the steamchamber and to heat .insulate the hood.

18. .A steaming iron including a' hollow 5 body, a'heating element'within. the bottom- 115 part of the body, a flash 'plate heated thereby,a water preheating unit arranged within the upper part of the body anddischarging onto the Hash plate for converting the1 water intosteam,'water supplying means, and means forl conducting said steam tothe ironing surface.A 19. A steaming iron including water supply means,a base having steam outlet means, 6,0 heating means in the base, a domehaving a .125

steam chamber communicating with the saidsteam outlet -means, and watercirculating 0 supply means and conducting water 1n a del L3 meanscarried by the dome, said water c irculatlng means communlcating withthe water

